Common Sense Media Review
By Alistair Lawrence
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bloody violence, torture, language in WWII action thriller.
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Prisoner of War
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
PRISONER OF WAR follows British RAF Wing Commander James Wright (Scott Adkins) as he attempts to escape a Japanese internment camp in World War II.
Is It Any Good?
While leading actor Adkins can be relied on to commit to physically demanding roles, this wartime action thriller will fatigue its viewers almost as much as its star. Stretched by an almost two-hour runtime, Prisoner of War mostly revolves around Adkins' imprisoned RAF hero Wright repeatedly fending off the threat of his sadistic Japanese captors in a series of deadly altercations, with each set piece very similar to the last. Cast as the movie's brutal villain, Lieutenant Colonel Benjiro Ito, Peter Shinkoda is also limited by the script. Even his repeated orders to stage death matches seems dull and predictable after a while. Eventually the plot tips over into an escape mission, which gives us a glimpse of what a bigger budget might have afforded the filmmakers. Too many of Wright's fellow prisoners are interchangeable, as are the cardboard cut-out foot soldiers on the other side. By the end, the war and period of history have been reduced to window dressing, as one long scrap makes for a predictably scrappy ending.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Prisoner of War. Did it feel excessive or just right for the tone of the movie? What were the effects of violence on the characters? Does exposure to violent media desensitize kids to violence?
Discuss the strong language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary, or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie? Is a certain level of language expected in a film like this?
What leadership skills did the main character show? What makes a good leader?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 19, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : September 19, 2025
- Cast : Scott Adkins , Peter Shinkoda , Michael Copon
- Director : Louis Mandylor
- Studio : Well Go USA
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : History ( War: WWII )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Run time : 112 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong violence and some language
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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